tent. Always ready and
prompt, his conceptions seemed to me almost intuitive. His voice was
fine, softened, and, I think, improved, by a slight lisp, which an
attentive observer could discern. The great theatres of eloquence and
public speaking in the United States are the legislative hall, the
forum, and the stump, without adverting to the pulpit. I have known some
of my contemporaries eminently successful on one of these theatres,
without being able to exhibit any remarkable ability on the others. Mr.
Prentiss was brilliant and successful on them all.

Of the attractions of his personal and social character the testimonies
are very striking. Judge Bullard, in a eulogy pronounced before the bar
of New Orleans, thus refers to his own experience:

What can I say of the noble qualities of his heart? Who can describe
the charms of his conversation? Old as I am, his society was one of my
greatest pleasures--I became a boy again. His conversation resembled
the ever-varying clouds that cluster round the setting sun of a summer
evening--their edges fringed with gold, and the noiseless and harmless
flashes of lightning spreading, from time to time, over their dark
bosom.

In a similar strain Gov. J. J. Crittenden, of Kentucky, wrote of him
shortly after his death:

It was impossible to know him without feeling for him admiration and
love. His genius, so rich and rare; his heart, so warm, generous, and
magnanimous; and his manners, so graceful and genial, could not fail to
impress these sentiments upon all who approached him. Eloquence was a
part of his nature, and over his private conversations as well as his
public speeches it scattered its sparkling jewels with more than royal
profusion.

* * * * *

C.

Here are the first stanzas of some of her favorite German hymns,
referred to in this letter:

Jesus, Jesus, nichts als Jesus
Soll mein Wunsch sein und mein Ziel;
Jetzund mach ich ein Verbuendniss,
Dass ich will, was Jesus will;
Denn mein Herz, mit ihm erfuellt,
Rufet nur; Herr, wie du willt.
_Written by Elizabeth, Countess of Schwartzburg_, 1640-1672.

Gott ist gegenwaertig! Lasset uns anbeten,
Und in Erfurcht vor ihn treten;
Gott ist in der mitten! Alles in uns schweige
Und sich innig vor ihm beuge;
Wer ihn kennt, wer ihn nennt,
Schlagt die Augen nieder,
Kommt, ergebt euch wieder.
_By Gerhard Tersteegen_, 1697-1769.

Zum Ernst, zum